Tripod for mounting guns, &amp;c.



E. C. MESSERSMITH.

TRIPOD FOR MOUNTING cums, m.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, I918.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET I- lllllulllllllWollll E. C. MESSERSMITH. TRIPOD For? moumme GUNS, 6w. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13 1'9I8. 1,331,11 Patented Feb. 17,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2;

. w I gig N C E. 0. MESSERSMITH.

TRIPOD FOR MOUNTING GUNS, &c.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.13, l9 1 8r Patented Fb. 17,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 I To all'whom. it may concern:

- EDGAR 0.1VIESSERS1VIITH', oEBUFFALo', NEW YORK.

, Terror Foe MOUNTING GUNS, &c. I

Specification of Letters Patent. Patntgd Feb. 17, 1920.

Application filed September 13, 1918. "serial No. 253,949.

Q Be it known that I, EDGAR C. Mnssnnsan'rrna citizen of theUnited States, residing in Buffalo, in the County of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tripods for Mounting Guns, &c., of which the following is a specification. e

This 'nvention relates to a tripod which is more 'p'articularly designed for supporting gun-although the same may also be used for supportlng other articles such as search i llghts which must be malntained in a defif nite position in order to obtain the desired results. v

It is the object of this invention to provide-a tripod of this character wherebythe article to be supported maybe properly and quicklymounted on any surface regardless ofits contour and .to accomplish this by means which can be readily and conveniently manipulated and accurately adjusted to any predetermined position as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevat1on,:partly broken I away, of a tripodembodying my improvements; Fig. 2 isa vertical longitudinal secends of the front legs may be adjustably tion, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 22,

Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sec- 'tion, on an enlarged scale, of the means for adjustably connecting the saddle and the adjusting arm of the tripod. Fig. 4: is a front elevation of the tripbd, partly broken away. Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical transverse sections, on an enlarged scale, taken on the correspondingly numbered lines in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale taken on line 7-7, Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 8-8,

v Fig. 4. 9 is'a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale taken on line 99, Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is afraginentary top plan view of the worm gear wheel and the indicator or dial ring associated therewith. Fig. 11 is a vertical section, taken on line 1111, Fig. 9.

Similar characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

1 represents the supporting head of th'e tripod upon which are arranged the various devices whereby the article to be supported ground or floor. The lower part of this head is constructed in the form of a downwardly pro ecting neck or shank 2, the opposite longitudinal'sides 7 of which are vertical and parallel so as to form bearing faces while the upper part of this head is constructed in the form of an upwardly tapering or reduced stem- 3. v

The means for supporting this head on the ground .or other surface comprises one bifurcated form, the cheeks 6, 6 of which engage with the opposite vertical longitudinal bearing faces. 7 of the supporting head,

and this coupling piece is pivotally connect- .ed with this head so that thesame may be turned in a vertical plane relatively to each other by means of-a pivot-pin 8 extending horizontally and transversely through the .lneck or shank of this supporting head. The

pivot8 Ofthe coupling piece is preferably secured in the neck of the supporting head by means of pins 9'as shown in Fig. 7, or any other suitable means. The upper rear connected with this supporting head in various ways but the means for this purpose shown in the drawings are preferred and comprise two couplinglinks 12, 12 each of which is adjustably connected at its lower end by means of a clamping bolt 15 with a coupling piece 16 at the upper end of one of the front legs while the upper end of this link iscapable of rotary adjustment on a shank 13 arranged on oneend of the pivot pin 8 and is clamped with its inner side against the outer side of the adjacent cheek of the coupling piece by a screw nut 14 engaging with the outer end of the shank 13 and bearing against the outer side of the respective link, as shown in Fig. 7.

The axes of the pivot pin 8 and its shanks 13 are arranged horizontally and transversely and the axes of the clamping bolts 15, 15 are arranged lengthwise and substantially horizontally with reference to the tripod as a whole. By'this means it is possible to first place the legs uponthe ground in the most available position for bringing the supporting head to the desired height from the ground and then the head may be turned in a vertical plane relatively to all of the legs so that it stands in a substantially upright or normal position best suited for operating thegun 80 mounted thereon. After the legs are thus properly placed on the ground the clamping nuts 14, are turned so as to hold the front legs in the proper, position relatively to the rear leg and the supporting head is also locked on the coupling piece of the rear leg so as to hold these parts in their proper relation. The

- locking means for holding the supporting head imposition with reference to the coupling piece of the rear leg may be variously constructed but in the form shown in the drawings the same preferably comprises a segment 17 arranged on the rear part of the neck of the supporting head and provided with'a row of V-shaped serrations 18, a locking dog or pawl 19 pivoted on the adj acent part of the coupling piece 5 by means of a transverse horizontal pin 20, so that the head is capable of swinging in a vertical plane lengthwise of the tripod and move the teeth or serrations 21 of the dog into and out of engagement with the serrations of the locking. segment, and av clamping screw 22 arranged in a threaded opening in the upper part of the coupling piece 5 and engaging with the rear side of the dog for holding the latter engagement with the looking "segment,- as best shown in Figs. 7 and j Upon the, upwardly tapering stem of the supporting head is pivotally mounted for rotationabout a vertical axis a rotatable turret 23' wh ch 'is-preferably confined against upward fmovem'ent'on the stem 3 by means of a retaining screw 24 secured to this stem and a washer 250 interposed between the head of this screw'andan-upwardly facing shoulder on this turret. Means are provided whereby this turret may be-first quickly turned'into approximately 'a' predetermined position and then slowly-and exactlyinto the position de- 45 worm the turret and the parts mounted thereon will be shifted circumferentiallyrelatively to the worm wheel. This worm is so mounted-on the turret that the same can be either engaged with or disengaged from the worm wheel and thus permit the turret I to be either turned quickly into its approximate predetermined position or turned slowly for bringing the same accurately into the-desired position. For this purpose Ineans are provided which preferably comprise a vertically and laterally-swinging yoke 28 which embraces the wornn an adjusting spindle or shaft 27 journaled horizontally on the lower part of this yoke and carrying the worm, anda horizontal pivot 9 pin 29 connecting theupper partof this yoke with a bracket 31 whichlatter is secured to one side of the turret by means of a screw 30,- as shown in Fig. 6. The yoke is moved toward and fromthe turret for the purpose .of engagingand disengaging the worm and worm-wheel by means of a shifting screw 32 engaging its thread with an internally-threadedopening in the bracket 31 and provided with an inner shoulder 33- adapted to engage with the inner side of the yoke and .an outer hand wheel 34 engaging with the. outer side of the same. By this means aturnin'g movement of the shifting screw in onedirection or the other will carry the ,yoke either toward or from' the turret and thereby either engage the worm; with or disengage the same from the worm-wheel. The turning movement of the spindle 27 is effected by means of a hand wheel 320 applied to the front end ,thereof. In order to prevent "dirt from getting into the teeth of the worm wheel and interfering with its operation the same is inclosed by a band or guard consisting preferably oftwo sections 470 connected by a screw 480 and mounted on the turret. v

Means are provided or determining the relative position of the turret and the supporting head, this being preferably accomplished by means which comprise a horizontally rotatable dial ring 34 mounted on a circumferential shoulder 400 formed on the lower part of the turret and provided with a mark or indication 35 which is adapted to traverse a circumferential scale or row of graduations 36 on the adjacent upper surface of the worm wheel 25, as

shown in Fig. 10. I This dial ring 34 ispreferahly held frictionally in whatever -position the same may be turned by hand on the turret, this friction being produced by means of a radially-movable detent plun ger 37 arranged in a socket 38 in'thepe- -riphery of the turret and held with its outer end yieldingly. in engagement with a groove 40 in the bore of the dial ring by means of a spring 39 arranged in the socket and bearing atone end against the bottom of this socket and at its other end against the rear end of the detent plunger, as shown in Fig. 6. When using this dial ring the same is set-with its mark or pointer 35 opposite the zero mark of the graduations 36 on the worm wheel. After a shot has been made with the gun mounted on the tripod and the the yoke 28, so as to enable the attendant to turn the worm the required extent subject to instructions from the observer. The dial mechanism associated with the worm spindle, as best shown in Figs. 2, 9 and 11, preferably comprises a longitudinally-split dial sleeve 41 mounted on the worm spindle in front of the yoke and provided at its rear end with a flange 42 bearing an annular scale or row of graduations 43 which are adapted to register with a mark 44 on the adjacent part of the yoke. This dial sleeve is yieldingly held in position by means of a spring-pressed detent. 47 mounted in a socket 48 inthe yoke and pressed with its front end against the inner side of the dial flange by means ofa spring 49 arranged in this socket in rear of the detent 47, as best shown in Fig. 9. "When setting up this instrument, the dial sleeve is turned sothat the zero mark on its dial plunger registers .with the dial mark 44 on the yoke, and after one or more shots have been made from the gun mounted on the tripod and the required correction has been determined, then the part of the worm spindle, so that this screw' serves as a key for preventing the dial sleeve from moving lengthwise on the Worm spindle.

Projecting rearwardly from the upper part of the turret are two coupling plates 50,

.50, upon the rear ends of which are mounted a saddle 51 which carries the gun 80.

The underside of this saddle is provided with two coupling plates 52- whiche'ngage with the outer sides of the coupling plates of the turret and are pivotally connected therewith, so that the saddle may turn in a vertical plane. plished by means of a shaftor spindle 53 passing through corresponding openings in the turret coupling plates and the saddle coupling plates. said shaft being provided This is preferably ac.com-.

at one end with a handle 55 and with a shoulder 54' bearing against the outer side of one of the turret coupling plates, while its opposite end is provided with a screw 56 bearing against the outer side of the other saddle coupling plate. The saddle also is provided with an adjusting arm 63 which projects rearwardly from the pivot 53. Between the .saddle and the turret are arranged means for coarsely and accurately adjusting the position of the saddle with reference to 'the turret. These means for effecting the coarse adjustment between the turret and saddle are preferably constructed as follows:

57 represents an adjusting arm arranged wvith the hub at its front end between the two coupling plates of the turret and mounted on the shaft 53. One side of the hub of this adjusting arm bears against the inner side of one of the turret coupling plates and on its opposite side this hub is provided -with a conical recess or socket 58 which is -side with a key 61 which engages with a seat 60 on the inner side of the outer turret coupling plate, as best shown in Fig. 5. Upon turning the shaft 53 in one direction, the clamping cone 59 will be drawn into the socket of the adjusting arm and press the latter against the inner side of the adjacent turret coupling plate, while upon turning this shaft in the opposite direction the grip of the cone on the hub of this adjusting arm will be released and thereby permit the adjusting arm57 to be turned with reference to the turret. By this means the saddle and the adjusting arm 57 may be turned simultaneously about the shaft 53 for roughly positioning the gun on the saddle relatively to the turret and then the adjusting arm 57 is clamped on the turret, but still leaving the saddle to swing freely on the turret. The means for effecting the fine adjusting of the saddle with reference to the turret is interposed between the rear ends of the saddle arm 63 and the turret arm 57, these means as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 being preferably constructed as follows:

64, 640 represent upper and lower end screw members of a turn buckle, which members are preferably provided with internal right and left hand screwthreads and pivotally connecting respectively with'the rear ends of the saddle arm and turret arm by means of pins'75, 76., 65 represents'an in.- termediate screw member forming part of the turn buckle, which member is provided at its opposite ends with external right and fso '- n'isnr is provided which is" preferably constructed-as follows? 67 represents a dial ring rotatable on an annular shoulder 90 formed on-the.. hand .wheel 66 and provided "on its peripheral surface ,with an annular row of graduations 71. This dial ring is retained on this left-hand screw threads engaging with the centralpart thereof. For the purpose of determining the amount'offine adjustment 5 which is required. between "the saddle and: g the turret afterthecoarse' adjustment has- *wheel, a bracket-arranged on said turret,

been 5 effected, a dial or indicating j mechai hand wheelby engagement of its lower end .I with the shoulder 90 while its upper end en- I the upper end of the plate 68 secured to' .g'a'ges with a retainini 1 1 1 7O anc w iee '.1'ep-.

I resents-apointer which is arranged onthe upper screw member of the turnbuckle and serves. as a mark with reference towhich the dial ring '67 on the hand 'wheelmay. beturned. Preparatory to' making a shot with") a gun after the same has been set up, 'thedial 1 ring 67 .is turned with its zero mark in line I with the pointer 70.

I ning thesaddle to betilted in. one direction;

ations of this dial ring are moved from one or the other and changing the angle-of; the

gun in. accordance with the, instructions of the observer, so thatthe shot from the gun will; become effective. The dial ring-67 is frictionally held inits adjusted position on this hand-wheel by means which preferably '..*consists of a detent" ball 72*arranged in a] Socket '73 in thehub of this hand wheel and pressed against the inner side of the 'dial era rin' by means of a spring 74 which is prefgly of. leaf-form and is interposed-between the'rear side of this socket and the 1 rear side of this 'detent ball. v I

These various improvements permit of rapidlyand easily adjusting the gun, so as to permit the operator of the same to hit the objective when. the gun is fired," which means are so designed -thatthey can be produced at comparatively low cost and are'not liable to' get out of .orderunderiordinary conditions: I

.' I-claim'as my invention:

1 l. A tripod comprising a leg provided with a coupling piece, a supporting head pivoted on said coupling piece, and'means for locking said supportinghead andcou- .pling piece in position relatively to each other comprising a segment arranged on said head and havlng a serrated perlphery, a locklng dog plvoted on said coupling piece bracket.

' After this the-,"hand' wheel'66 is turned so that thescale-or'gradm and liaving a serratedi faceengaging the serrations of said segment, and a clamping screw mounted on couplingpiece and engaging with said dog. 1 1

2. A tripod comprising a supporting head, a worin meshing with said wornr a yoke pivoted on said bracketto swing laterally' and carrying said worm, and a shifting screw connecting said yoke and said 3. A tripodl'comprising turret, an adjusting arm mounted on said turret so as to be capable of swingingvertically and provided with a conical clamping socket, a clamping cone engaging with said clamping socket, a clamping screw plvotally connecting said turret and arm and adapted to move saidcone and socket toward and from each other and asaddle mounted on said turret and. adjustably. connected with said arm.

- 41. .A tripod comprising aturre't, an "adjusting arm adjustably pivoted on saidturret, asaddle adjustablypivoted on said turret, and means for adjusting. said saddle relativelyto said arm comprising two end screw. members connected-with saidsaddle and arm, respectively, an intermediate ro tata'blescrew 'memlber 'engaglng -w1th .sald' end screw 'members, a pointer arranged on one of said end screw members, and a diall "rotatable on said intermediate screw membeer and provided withJgradu-ations adaptedto register. with said pointer.

A tripod comprising a supporting head,

a :worm: Wheel mounted on said head and provided with graduations, a turret rotatableon said head, and a dial rotatable on 'said tur'retand rovided with a mark adaptfedto-regis'terw1th said graduations.

. 61A tripod comprising asupporting head, a Worm wheelfmounted on;said head, a turret rotatable onjsaid he'ad,"a worm engaging said worm, aabea'ringwhich is mounted on .s'aidturret' and in. which said spindle turns and providedwith amark, and-a dial rota.- table on said. spindle and provided with graduations adapted todregisterwith said ma ki 7 J A tripod gun mount comprising a'pintle,flegs' adjustably connected to said pintle,

:the I upper portion of said pintle being tapered, a head provided with a socket to receive said. tapered portion of said pintle, means for locking the head to said pintle,

fer locking the said rearwardly extending arm and said'cradle with relation to said head. 4

8. A tripod gun mount having a pintle pivotally mounted and capable of swinging about a transverse horizontal axis, said pintle having a supporting base-plate circum ferentially arranged thereon, ahead rota: tably mounted on said pintle and supported in said base-plate, bracket arms secured to said head, a rearwardly extending arm mounted in said bracket arm capable of adjustment with regard to said bracket arm, and a cradle also mounted in said bracket arms and capable of adjustment with regard to said bracket arms and to said rearwardly extending arm.

. 9. A tripod gun mount comprising a pintle, legsfor supporting said pintleand said pintle pivotally mounted with regard to said legs, said pintle provided with a circumferentially arranged base-plate, a 1'0- tatable head mounted on said pintle and supported in said base-plate, the circumferential base plate being provided with annularly arranged teeth, means mounted on.

said head for cooperating with said teeth to rotate the said head, a rearwardly extending arm mounted in said head, a cradle mounted in said head, means connected to the rear of the cradle and the rear of the supporting arm for adjusting the cradle with relation to the rearwardly extending arm.

10. A tripod gun mount comprising a pintle, legs connected to and supporting said pintle, a base-plate circumferentially formed on said pintle, a graduated circumferential dial marked on said base-plate, a head rotatably mounted on said pintle and supported in said base-plate, an index-ring carried by said head and normally held in frictional contact with said head to thereby rotate with said head, but. capable of being rotated manually when desired to set the index point opposite any graduation on the dial, and a cradle mounted on said head and capable of movement about a transverse horizontal axis.

11. A tripod gun mount comprising in part a pintle, said pintle provided with a secured to said bracket arm, said casing hav- .with an opening therein, a dial marked on the base-plate of said pintle, an index-ring carried by said head and normally held in frictional contact with said head, and free to be set at any desired point, a worm pivotally mounted to said head and a portion thereof adapted to pass within the opening in said guard-ring, means for throwing the worm into and out of contact with the teeth on said pintle, and means for operating said worm when said worm is in contact with- ,the said teeth to thereby rotate said head.

14:. A tripod gun mount comprising in part a pintle, said pintle provided with a circularbase-plate, a head rotatably mounted on said pintle and supported in said baseplate, a bracket arm extendingv outwardly from said head, a downwardly extending casing pivotally mounted to said outwardly extending bracket arm, a shaft extending into said casing and a worm mounted on said shaft, a graduated dial mounted in said casing and normally clamped to said shaft to rotate with the same and saiddial capable of being loosened from said shaft so that the same may be set in any desired position.

15. A tripod gun mount comprising in part a cradle, a rearwardly extending arm,

an elevating mechanism secured to the rear v "of said cradle and rearwardly extending means for holding said dial in contact with said casing, and said dial capable of being rotatedmanually to any desired point.

16. A tripod gun mount comprising legs, a pintle, a head rotatively mounted on said pintle, a rearwardly extending arm mounted in said head, a cradle also mounted on said head, a rear elevating mechanism adjustably connected to said cradle and pivotally connected to said rearwardly extending arm, means on said rear elevating mechanism for determining the amount of move- .ment between said cradle and said rearwardly extending arm.

EDGAR o. MEssERsMITiI 

